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Al-Umma activist arrested after 12 years

TIRUNELVELI: A special team of the police has nabbed an Al-Umma activist and accused in a murder case, who went underground 12 years ago immediately after the murder.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Palayamkottai, Ramachandran, and Inspector of Police, Melapalayam, J. Nagarajan, a group of 22 Al-Umma activists, led by Shahul Hameed alias Muttai Sait of Melapalayam, allegedly murdered A. Muthukrishnan, a driver in a private soap manufacturing unit, and attacked his brother A. Murugan with deadly weapons when they were returning home on August 27, 1997.

Charge sheet

The charge sheet was filed on March 20, 1998, in which 23 persons were cited as accused. Since the 22nd accused of this case, Koplaan Sahib alias M. Koplaan Shahul Hameed, and the 23rd accused, A. Mohamed Subhash Nazir alias Nandu, both hailing from Melapalayam, went underground, the case was separated and the trial was conducted against the other accused, who were acquitted on September 24, 2003.

As arrest warrants against Koplaan Shahul Hameed and Mohamed Subhash Nazir were pending since 1998, Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli City (In-Charge) and Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Tirunelveli Range, P. Kannappan formed special teams recently to nab the duo.

After the team led by Mr. Nagarajan received information that Koplaan Shahul Hameed was hiding at Thuckalay near Nagercoil, they raided his hideout on Monday.

“Since the murder case trial is pending in the court against Koplaan Shahul Hameed and he has been arrested now, it will be conducted separately,” Mr. Ramachandran said.